Stranded sailor rescued in dramatic operation

After three days adrift on a life raft in the remote Southern Ocean, round-the-world yachtsman Alain Delord has been rescued by a cruise ship returning from Antarctica.

The Orion rescued the stranded Frenchman about 500 nautical miles southwest of Hobart on Sunday night.

A spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed the 63-year-old was picked up by the ship, which was diverted about 1800km to perform the rescue, in an alert issued just after 9.30pm (AEDT).

"I'm very pleased to confirm the solo sailor, who had been in a life raft in the Southern Ocean for the past three days, has been recovered by the cruise ship Orion, and AMSA believes he is being taken to Hobart," she said.

There were "scant" early details of the rescue but AMSA said Delord had been recovered "safely and without injury".

"He is currently receiving medical attention and early indications are that he is healthy," the spokeswoman said.

"Weather conditions were better than expected and there was plenty of light in the area."

Delord, who set off at the beginning of October, abandoned his yacht Tchouk Tchouk Nougaton after it lost its mast and its hull was damaged in rough weather.

The location was too distant for a helicopter rescue with MSA using three aircraft to maintain contact with the sailor until a vessel could reach him.

The Orion, with 100 passengers and 80 crew on board, was on its way from Antarctica to the world heritage-listed Macquarie Island when it responded to the call for help.

The ship had battled deteriorating weather conditions throughout Sunday to reach Delord, with fears he would have to spend a third night at sea.

The yachtsman had received an air drop of food, water, communications equipment and a survival suit while he waited for his rescue.

The captain of the Orion Mike Taylor reported that Delord was recovered safely and without injury.